Hello, Harford County!
University of
Maryland Extension
The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), who
oversees pesticides on a national level, is proposing
Harford County Office
changes to the existing federal regulations
P.O. Box 663
concerning the certification of applicators of
2335 Rock Spring Road
restricted use pesticides. If passed, these
Forest Hill, MD 21050
regulations would need to be adopted by the
Maryland Department of Agriculture’s pesticide
(410) 638-3255
M—F 8:00 a.m—4:30 p.m. regulation section and would change some aspects
of the current private and commercial pesticide
applicator certification and recertification process.
Extension.umd.edu/harford-county
According to EPA, the changes are being proposed
facebook.com/HarfordAg
in order to ensure the Federal certification
program
standards
adequately
protect
Sara BhaduriHauck
applicators, the public, and the environment from
Ag Extension Educator
risks associated with the use of restricted use
sbh@umd.edu
pesticides (RUPs).
Information outlining the proposed
changes is available on EPA’s website: go to
www.regulations.gov and enter the docket
number EPA-HQ-OPP-2011-0183 into the
INSIDE THIS ISSUE:
search box. A comment period is open through
November 23, and you can make comments
Toxic Plant Seminar
2
directly through this website.
Because Maryland already has a wellestablished
pesticide applicator certification
Poultry 201
2
and recertification program in place, not every
Workshop: Fall Flock
change proposed by the EPA would require
Care
changes to the way the program already
operates in Maryland. Following is an
overview of the significant changes that would
4-H Open Judged
3
occur in Maryland if the proposal passes.
Pleasure Trail Ride
 Private and commercial applicators who
perform aerial application, soil fumigation,
and fumigations other than of soil would
Burn Baby Burn, but
4
be required to obtain a special
endorsement with their certification.
Carefully and Legally
 All persons attending recertification training
would be required to show a photo ID prior to
signing the attendance sheet. (Currently photo
ID is only required when sitting for the
certification exam.)
 Non-certified applicators who apply RUPs
under the supervision of a certified applicator
would need to receive annual safety training,
which could be provided by a currently
certified applicator or a State-designated
trainer. Commercial applicators would be
required to maintain records that this training
had been completed by non-certified
applicators under their supervision.
 Persons would need to be at least 18 years old
to be certified as a commercial or private
applicator or to apply RUPs under the
supervision of a certified applicator. (Currently
the required age in Maryland is 16.)
 The amount of continuing education
(recertification training) needed to maintain
certification would be increased for private
applicators. Currently private applicators must
attend two hours of recertification training
once every three years. The proposed changes
would require five hours of training every three
years, with at least half of that training
occurring in the last 18 months prior to
expiration of the certification.
Because it is still early in the process, we
should not expect to see changes to MDA’s
pesticide applicator certification process for
several years. However, if passed these
amendments will cause significant changes to the
way the program operates. Please take the
opportunity to share your thoughts with EPA by
submitting your comments before November 23.
Sincerely,
Private Applicator
Pesticide Training
7
Farm Respiratory
Hazards
8
Toxic Plant Seminar
October 20, 2015
Do you know what plants in your pasture pose a threat to
your livestock? What steps are you taking to reduce your
6:00 p.m.—8:00 p.m.
animals’ risk of eating something toxic? Veterinarian Dr. Harford Extension Office
Anna Snarski and Extension Educator Sara BhaduriHauck
Forest Hill, MD
will discuss the principles of plant toxicity, identification
of toxic plants, and tips for keeping livestock safe from plant poisonings. This
workshop will be geared toward adults, but older youth may also participate.
Information will be relevant to producers of all livestock species, including cattle,
small ruminants, horses, and other pastured species. Light refreshments and printed
resources will be provided. Registration is $5 per person; please register by October
12. For more information or to register, contact Sara BhaduriHauck at the Harford
County Extension Office at 410-638-3255 or sbh@umd.edu.
Poultry 201 Workshop: Fall Flock Care
Poultry enthusiasts and small flock owners won’t
want to miss this workshop on fall flock care, to
6:30 p.m.—8:30 p.m.
include discussions on how to prepare your birds for
Baltimore County Ag Center winter and the current status of avian flu in the
Cockseysville, MD
United States and in Maryland. Speakers for the
evening will include Dr. Nathaniel Tablante,
University of Maryland Poultry Health Specialist; Dr. Michael Radebaugh, the
state veterinarian with Maryland Department of Agriculture; and Ms. Jennifer
Reynolds, University of Maryland Poultry Extension Coordinator. The experts will
be available at the end of the program for questions. Registration is $10 per
person. Light refreshments will be provided. Registration is required by October
28 and is limited to the first 30 registrants. To register or for more information
about the program, contact Sara BhaduriHauck at the Harford County Extension
Office at 410-638-3255 or sbh@umd.edu.
November 5, 2015
Youth Swine Field Day
Come out to the first annual swine field day, brought to you by
Wishful Thinking Farm. This is a great opportunity to learn
8:00 a.m.—2:00 p.m.
more about your swine project for the upcoming show season.
Deer Creek Overlook
This will be a fun-filled day with lots of educational topics and
Street, MD
prizes! Topics will include feeding your show hog, picking a
show pig, a show clinic, and judging contests and skillathon.
The registration fee of $15 includes lunch and a T-shirt. Bring a canned food item and get
a free prize! For more information or to register, contact Kelly Vaughan at 410-459-9780.
November 8, 2015
Toxic Plant Profile: Milkweed and Dogbane
By Sara BhaduriHauck, University of Maryland Extension—Harford County
Milkweed is relatively well-known because it’s the primary food source for monarch butterfly larvae. It is,
however, toxic to livestock. Dogbane, while lesser-known, is a milkweed relative that is also toxic.
There are actually over 140 species of milkweed plants that collectively make up the genus Asclepias. Only
about 25 of these species grow in the United States, and 13 are found in Maryland. All milkweeds are similar in
appearance, although some observable variation does exist between
Continued...
species. Most but not all species exude a milky
white sap when broken.
Common milkweed is the most widely
disseminated species found in Maryland. It is an erect,
perennial plant with hairy, simple stems. The leaves are
waxy-looking with a prominent white midvein and are
pointed at the tip. It blooms in early summer, and the
flowers are arranged in spherical clusters. Flowers are
usually lavender to light pink. After flowering, common
milkweed produces one to several seed pods that begins
as green, then dry and split open to release its seeds. Each
seed is attached to hairs that allow it to be carried with
the wind.
Dogbanes are within a separate genus,
Apocynum, but both milkweeds and dogbanes belong to
the family Apocynaceae. Dogbane also contains a milky
white sap. It looks very similar to milkweed and is often
difficult to distinguish. Dogbane, however, is more
branching than milkweed, and the stems are smooth
rather than hairy. The flowers typically have a flatter, disclike arrangement, whereas the flowers on milkweed are
arranged in a spherical pattern.
The toxic elements in both milkweed and
dogbane are cardiac glycosides. Cardiac glycosides are
chemicals that inhibit function of the heart muscle by
inhibiting the sodium-potassium pumps in cardiac muscle
cell membranes.
The lethal dose of milkweed or dogbane, for most
animals, is about 0.05% of body weight. For a cow or a
horse, that’s about half a pound of plant material; for a
sheep or goat, it’s just a few ounces. Fresh leaves are the
most toxic, but dried leaves also contain the toxic
compounds. Death from poisoning usually occurs within
12 to 24 hours of ingestion.
Signs of poisoning include rapid, weak, or
otherwise abnormal pulse; depression, weakness,
staggered gait, and lack of muscular control; dilation of
pupils; difficulty breathing; and colic and/or bloat. If
caught early enough after ingestion, a veterinarian can
administer drugs that help prevent the toxic compounds
from being absorbed by the gut.
Like with most toxic plants, livestock do not
readily consume milkweed or dogbane unless it is the only
forage available. The risk for poisoning increases when
fields are overgrazed or dormant, such as during midsummer. Perhaps the highest risk for poisoning is from
contaminated hay simply because it can be difficult to tell
that toxic plants are present. Hay producers should take
precautions to prevent milkweed and dogbane from being
present in hay. Livestock producers who feed hay should
ensure they buy from a reputable hay dealer and be
educated about how to select quality hay. It’s also
generally advisable to ask your hay dealer what weeds are
problematic in his or her field and what measures are
taken to control them.
Early control is important with milkweed and
dogbane because the seeds travel easily with the wind
which can result in these weeds spreading quickly.
Mowing can prevent the plants from going to seed, but
because they have a well-established root system they will
often recover. Herbicides are usually the most effective
way to control milkweed and dogbane. Spot spraying with
glyphosate is recommended for small areas of infestation.
Larger areas may need to be treated with an herbicide
selective for broadleaf weeds, such as 2,4-D. The best time
to apply herbicides is during the bud stage, just before the
flower blooms, which usually occurs in early or midsummer. At that time of year, the plant has depleted its
root energy stores in order to produce the flower and will
readily translocate a systemic herbicide to the roots.
Photo: Michigan State University
4-H Open Judged Pleasure Trail Ride
Come out and support Harford County 4-H Horse Programs and have fun with your horse
at a judged pleasure trail ride on October 24! The ride will be at the Sweet Air Park area of
9:30 a.m.
Gunpowder State Park on Dalton Bevard Road (off Moores Road) in Baldwin. The first
group will ride out at 9:30 a.m. Riders will be judged at 10 different check points along the
Sweet Air Park
trail. Riders will compete in four age divisions (10 and under, 11-13, 14-18, and adult), and
Baldwin, MD
horses will compete in breed divisions. Awards and trophies will be given
to the top competitors. Registration is $20 before October 12 and $25 after that time. The
registration fee includes a family-style cookout lunch after the ride. Registration forms are available
online at extension.umd.edu/harford-county. For more information, call the Harford County
Extension Office at 410-638-3255. All proceeds will benefit the Harford County 4-H Horse Program
and the Mary Koepper 4-H Horse Council Scholarship.
October 24, 2015
2015 Agriculture and Environmental Law Conference
This conference is geared toward members of the agricultural community including
farmers, agricultural and environmental attorneys, regulators, agriculture
8:00 a.m.—4:00 p.m.
professionals, environmental associations, and elected officials. Discussion topics
Doubletree Hotel
will include nutrient credit trading, the Maryland Animal Feeding Operations (AFO)
Annapolis, MD
general permit, Bay leasing for shellfish aquaculture, anaerobic digesters on the
farm: policy, legal, and
science panel discussion, and on-farm conservation
practices. Speakers will include Maryland Secretary
of the Environment Ben Grumbles. The registration
fee is $10 per person. To register or to learn more,
visit go.umd.edu/ALEIConf.
November 20, 2015
Burn Baby Burn, but Carefully and Legally
By Sarah Everhart, Legal Specialist, University of Maryland Francis King Carey School of Law
Burning debris is not an uncommon practice on
Maryland farms. However, there are specific legal
requirements related to open air burning that should
be understood and followed carefully.
In Maryland, wildfires burn 4,000 acres annually
and debris or open air burning is the leading cause of
wildfires, accounting for over 29% of all
wildfires. Therefore, the State has enacted legal
regulations to control open air burning. State law
defines open air burning as “a fire where any material
is burned in the open, except small recreational fires
such as campfires.” State law dictates when and how
open air burning may occur if it is within 200 feet of
woodland or an area where flammable materials are
present; if the burning occurs within an incorporated
town, the town’s code establishes the legal
requirements.
Unless authorized by a permit issued by the
Maryland Department of Natural Resources (DNR), by
State law there must be a natural or
constructed fire break at least 10 feet
wide completely free of flammable
materials around the material to be
burned. The burn must also be observed
by at least one responsible person who
has adequate equipment to prevent the
fire from escaping. Additionally, open air
burning may only occur between the
hours of 4 p.m. and 12 midnight, except
when the ground is covered with snow. A
person who wants/needs to engage in an
open air burn which fits with the
requirements above must apply and
receive a permit for burn from DNR.
During a drought in summer
months, the DNR commonly may declare
a complete ban on all open air burning to prevent
wildfires. Counties can also separately or in conjunction
with DNR declare local burn bans. Therefore, before any
open air burning, it is advisable to call either the DNR or
the local forest service office to ensure there is no burn
ban in effect. Counties may also have additional legal
restrictions on open air burning which need to be
understood and complied with before any burning.
DNR advises those planning on participating in
open air burning to not burn on windy days, have hand
tools and a water hose ready to prevent spreading of the
fire, never to leave fire unattended, and always burn a
safe distance from all structures. Finally, it should be
noted that burning is not the preferred method to
dispose of dead livestock or poultry; composting should
be pursued unless there has been a catastrophe and
subsequent permission of the Maryland Department of
Environment to burn mortalities.
Now is the Time to Schedule Wood or Pellet Stove Cleaning
From the Pennsylvania Biomass Energy Association
The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA)
recommends that wood-burning appliances be
professionally installed and maintained by a certified
technician to insure its safety and proper performance.
The safety of your home and family depends on fully
understanding and carrying out the critical
manufacturer and building code requirements that
include:
 Proper clearances between the wood-burning
appliance and venting system and combustible
materials.
 Proper protection of combustible floors.
 Proper assembly of appliance and venting
components.
 Errors in installation (by a non-professional) may
not be visible, and problems may not be apparent
for a considerable length of time—and then only
by a resulting home fire.
Furthermore, experienced professionals can
properly size and place equipment for best heat
distribution. The venting system (or chimney), in
particular, is a critical area that requires professional
involvement. This is the "engine" that drives the
whole burning process, or causes it to perform
poorly or fail. Professional decisions about the
venting system to ensure adequate draft include:
 Proper sizing (particularly avoiding oversized
flues).
 Proper height (often taller than minimum code
requirements).
 Proper location (interior of the house when
possible) or protection from extreme cold.
 Proper
configuration (avoiding excessive
horizontal runs and system turns in direction).
 A wood-burning appliance that is sized and
placed properly with a venting system that
delivers adequate draft will reduce wood
consumption, produce more usable heat, and
reduce maintenance from inefficient fires.
One of the best ways to find competent
installation and maintenance professionals is to
check their credentials. The Chimney Safety Institute
of America (CSIA) is a nonprofit, educational
organization dedicated to chimney and venting
system safety. The CSIA provides a directory that
helps you find a certified chimney sweep. The
National Fireplace Institute (NFI) is a non-profit
certification agency that conducts nationwide
education and testing of hearth professionals, and is
a valuable source for certified hearth system
planners and installers.
Photo: Cornell Cooperative Extension
Fall Certification of Cover Crops
Now that harvest has begun, the Harford Soil Conservation District would like to remind all producers about the
fall certification of the cover crop program. There are many pieces of information needed to complete the
certification. Please have the following information when you come to the office:
 Knowledge of field locations and acreage based on FSA maps
 Previous crop
 Type of cover crop planted
 Date of cover crop planted
 Method of planting
 Seeding rate
 Manure application in spring 2015 (if applicable)
 Seed tag (for each seed type planted)
Please realize that the cover crop certification cannot be processed by MDA without a seed tag or seed test
results. Therefore, grab the tag before you dispose of the empty bag. To assist producers with multiple tracts,
contact the SCD to prepare a packet of maps to minimize your time in the office. If you have any questions
pertaining to the fall certification process, please contact either Bill Tharpe or Andrew League at 410-838-6181
x 3. Remember that fall crop reporting to FSA is separate from the cover crop certification.
Private Applicator Pesticide Training
October 14, 2015
Those seeking to purchase and/or apply restricted use
pesticides are required to obtain certification from Maryland
Harford County
Department of Agriculture (MDA). Training for private
Extension Office
applicators is offered at the Harford County Extension Office
Forest Hill, MD
each year in March and October. For current applicators, the
recertification session will be held on October 14 from 1:00 –
3:00 p.m. New applicators may attend the optional training session from 9:00 – 11:00
a.m. on October 14 and will sit for the MDA certification exam on October 21 at 9:00
a.m. Both sessions are free to attend, but advanced registration is requested. To
register, please call the Harford County Extension Office at 410-638-3255.
Supper Seminars Offered in Baltimore County
Wednesdays this Fall
Are you a woman farmer in production agriculture?
Are you busy farming but know you need to keep
6:00 p.m.
updated on the rules, regulations, and business
Baltimore
County
Ag
Center
planning tools needed to protect your business and
Cockeysville, MD
improve your family’s quality of life? Does it seem
that you never have time to do something for yourself? We’re University of
Maryland’s Women in Agriculture Program and we can help! Please plan to join us
for supper and an active learning time that covers topics especially designed to
meet your continuing education needs. Beginning October 7, we will meet
Wednesdays at 6:00 p.m. for five consecutive weeks with speakers and open
discussion centered on your farm and the public, food safety (GAPs), cottage food
laws, and more. Space is limited to 12 seats. Registration includes supper,
handouts, a scheduled speaker, and a good evening of networking and
camaraderie. Registration for all five sessions is $75. All sessions will be held at the
Baltimore County Ag Center, 1114 Shawan Road in Cockeysville, MD 21030. For
more information call 410-887-8090 or register online at http://
wiasuppersession.eventbrite.com.
Mid-Atlantic WIA Wednesday Webinars
Join the Mid-Atlantic Women in Agriculture for an online learning experience right from your home computer!
Webinars are being offered at noon on the second and fourth Wednesdays of each month. Each webinar will last
about an hour. They are free, and all are invited to participate!
 October 14: Figuring Out Facebook Pages. A lot had changed since Facebook first offered free pages
for businesses and organizations. Learn how to optimize to get the most out of your Facebook page.
 October 28: Snap It, Then App It. Learn how to optimize your smart phone and tablet photographs. A
general review of digital photography and DSLRs will also be covered.
 November 11: CSA Operators Corner
 December 9: Market Research. Market research is an important part of a marketing and business plan.
This webinar will review the basics of marketing research, identifying a customer and market research
tools.
For more information or to register, visit extension.umd.edu/womeninag/webinars or contact Victoria Corcoran
at vgc@umd.edu.
Fall Nutrient Management Planning
By Patricia Hoopes, Harford County Nutrient Management Advisor
Fall is already here: corn silage harvest is
coming to a close, and the corn grain harvest has
started. WOW! Where did summer go?
University of Maryland Extension Nutrient
Management Advisors offer the following services to
assist with plan development and updates:
 Fall Soil Nitrate Testing (FSNT): This test can be
done at the Extension office or in a lab. It
determines nitrate levels in the soil. You can find
more information about this test in Extension Brief
EBR-15 2013, which is available upon request.
 Corn silage yield determination: This is useful if
other forms of yield determination are not
available or if yields are being affected by wildlife
damage.
 Corn grain yield determination: This may be useful
if deer damage has reduced yields.
 Corn stalk nitrate test information: Lab testing is
required to determine nitrate content, but
publication NM-8 (revised April 2010) is available
from our office if you’d like to learn more about
the testing. The CSNT determines the
concentration of nitrate in stalks and rates them as
low, marginal, optimum or excessive.
 Manure spreader calibration: The amount of N-P-K
applied can be determined using the spreader
application rate and the manure analysis. The
Nutrient Management Advisor can visit your farm
and help you perform the calibration.
Note that fall is a great time to take field soil
samples and manure samples in preparation to update
your Nutrient Management Plan. Early plan
development helps with fall lime applications and early
discounted fertilizer purchases.
FSNT for N Applications on Wheat and Barley for Grain
By Patricia Hoopes, Harford County Nutrient Management Advisor
Farmers who plant wheat and barley for grain
production must determine soil nitrate levels before
applying additional nitrogen. This includes nitrogen
supplied from chemical fertilizer and from manure.
Soil nitrate concentration can be tested by a
lab or by your Nutrient Management Advisor. This
test is done by using the Fall Soil Nitrate Test (FSNT).
The benefits of using the FSNT include:
 Saving money on N fertilizer if there is adequate
nitrate-nitrogen in the soil left over from the
previous corn crop.
 Optimizing yield if there is inadequate nitratenitrogen in the soil.
A special note on FSNT following soybeans: only
one field in 30 comparisons over 3 years showed a
positive response to N following soybeans. Therefore,
fall fertilizer-N application to wheat following
soybeans is not recommended.
If you would like your Nutrient Management
Advisor to perform the FSNT for
your operation, please coordinate
with the advisor before delivering
samples.
References:
NM-8 Revised
April 2010 and Extension Brief EBR
-15 2013
Farm Respiratory Hazards
By Dennis J. Murphy, Distinguished Professor, The Pennsylvania State University
Many people associate farming with fresh air and a
healthy, robust environment where farmers work and
live. However, farming is filled with respiratory hazards:
pesticide vapors, dusty fields, dangerous hydrogen
sulfide accumulations in manure pits and pump sumps,
nitrogen dioxide in conventional silos, and many other
things. Farmer’s lung, organic dust toxicity syndrome
(ODTS), and silo fillers’s disease are three occupational
diseases associated with production agriculture. Asthma
continues to emerge as an ongoing respiratory illness for
many farmers.
One of the main culprits in respiratory illnesses for
farmers is mold spores. Mold spores are produced by
microorganisms which grow on living plants and on baled
hay, stored grain, or silage with high moisture content
(30 percent). These microorganisms become active when
temperatures reach 70 degrees Fahrenheit in poorly
ventilated areas. Farmers typically contract these
diseases in the winter and early spring because the mold
has had time to develop in closed storage areas and the
crop is being removed from storage.
Heavy concentrations of mold spores appear as a
dry, white or grey powder in grain or forage. When the
feed is moved, billions of these microscopic sized
particles become airborne and attach themselves to dust.
The particles pass through the body’s natural filtering
mechanisms (e.g., nose, hair, and throat mucous) and
accumulate in the lungs where they can cause an
allergenic type of pneumonia. Repeated attacks can lead
to scarring of lung tissue which impairs its function and
can cause permanent damage.
Farmer’s lung. Farmer’s lung can also be referred
to as farmer’s hypersensitivity pneumonitis (FHP) and is a
noninfectious allergic disease that affects normal lung
function. This condition is a result of inhaling mold spores
from baled hay, stored grain, or silage with high moisture
content (30%). These mold spores are so minuscule that
about 250,000 of them can fit on the head of a pin so a
person could easily breathe in millions of them in just a
few minutes. Once they are inhaled, these tiny mold
spores easily move into the lower part of the lungs
causing symptoms to appear within four to six hours.
Exposure to mold spores may produce the following
symptoms: First, there is a delayed reaction of 3 to 8
hours during which the patient may develop shortness of
breath; tightness in the chest; fatigue; a dry, unproductive
cough; muscle ache, headache, chills and fever. The most
serious stage of the reaction may last approximately 12 to
48 hours, but some effects are likely to linger for up to
two weeks. Acute exposure symptoms eventually
disappear with no apparent lasting effect, particularly with
first time or mild exposures.
A farmer’s allergic reaction to these mold spores
can be acute, resembling flu or pneumonia or with chronic
symptoms similar to a nagging chest cold. If a producer
has been diagnosed with farmer’s lung, they should avoid
any additional exposure to mold spores to reduce the risk
that their condition could worsen to the point that it could
be fatal. A farmer that thinks he or she may have Farmer’s
lung should contact their physician immediate to explain
their symptoms and the occupational health risk of
contracting an agricultural related respiratory illness.
Follow these recommendations to reduce your risk of
contracting farmer’s lung:
 Identify and reduce the contaminants in your work
area.
 Decrease your exposure to contaminants (e.g., mold
spores).
 Reduce mold spores by using commercially available
mold inhibitors.
 Harvest, bale, store, and ensile grains at the
recommended moisture level to reduce mold growth.
 Examine your feeding system to identify ways to
automate feeding to decrease the release of airborne
mold spores.
 Avoid working in dusty places in confined space areas.
 Ventilate (e.g., fans, exhaust blowers, etc.) to
mechanically remove air contaminants.
Wear a double strap dust mask or organic dust filter
equipped respirator rated at least N95 to reduce your
exposure to contaminants.
Organic Dust Toxicity Syndrome. Silo unloaders
syndrome is another name for organic dust toxicity
syndrome (ODTS) because the condition often occurs
during the unloading or uncapping of silos. However,
other names for this condition include grain fever, toxic
alveolitis, or pulmonary mycotoxicosis. Similar diseases
associated with other agricultural occupations have been
termed bird fanciers’ lung, mushroom workers’ lung, and
wood pulp workers’ disease.
ODTS is caused by exposure to large amounts of
organic dust. Some areas on the farm that may have high
dust levels include silos, grain storage, hog barns, and
poultry barns. This disease can display symptoms
approximately four to six hours after exposure. Symptoms
include cough, fever, chills, fatigue, muscle pain, and loss
of appetite. ODTS and farmer’s lung are both similar in
routes of entry and symptoms. Since the symptoms of
farmer’s lung and ODTS are often similar to other health
conditions (e.g., pneumonia, flu, etc), the diseases are
often unrecognized by farmers and family members and
misdiagnosed by physicians not familiar with agricultural
health hazards.
To reduce your risk of contracting ODTS, follow the
same recommendations for the prevention of Farmer’s
lung. Wear a respirator to reduce your exposure to
organic dust. Implement best management practices to
maintain good air quality in confined buildings used
for swine and poultry and always wear the
appropriate respiratory protective equipment.
Asthma. Of growing concern is the high incidence of
asthma in all age groups and occupations. Typically,
asthma includes airflow obstruction, bronchial hyperresponsiveness, and chronic inflammation of the airways
which can cause wheezing, shortness of breath, coughing,
and tightness in your chest. Asthma is typically classified
into two types including allergic or non-allergic. Allergic
asthma or atopic is caused by exposure to an allergen (e.g.,
pollen, pet dander, mold, etc.). Non-allergic asthma is
caused by exposure to non-allergic substances (e.g., grain
dust, cleaners, wood smoke, etc.). Asthma types can be
broken into additional categories that include
occupational, viral induced, nocturnal, and reactive airway
dysfunction syndrome (SADS).
Follow these recommendations to reduce your risk
of triggering an asthma attack:
 Store grain at recommended moisture content levels to
reduce the growth of mold spores.
 Ventilate animal housing areas to decrease the
accumulation of ammonia and other gases.
 Frequently remove animal waste from the barn to
decrease ammonia build-up and reduce exposure to
urine and fecal allergens.
 Identify high dust hazards around the farmstead and
reduce dust exposure by cleaning these areas.
 When cleaning a barn or stable, lightly water areas to
reduce the risk for airborne dust.
 Wear a NIOSH approved and properly fitted N-95 or N100 disposable particulate respirator when completing
work tasks (e.g., cleaning, harvesting, grain handling,
etc.) to protect yourself from dust, bacteria, fungi,
insects, and animal products.
The above selection is an excerpt. The full article is
available online at extension.psu.edu/business/ag-safety/
health/e26.
Baltimore City Hiring 4-H Extension Assistant
The University of Maryland Extension Office in Baltimore City is seeking candidates for a Faculty Extension Assistant to
work with the 4-H program. The successful candidate will coordinate and administer the 4-H volunteer training, 4-H
enrollment system, program fiscal management, 4-H club and program planning, recognition of volunteers and youth,
and other related duties. This position requires a bachelor’s degree in a science, technology, engineering, or math
(STEM) field or youth development, education, or another closely-related field. Flexible work hours will be required,
including evenings and weekends. This is a non-tenure track faculty position. The base salary is $34,275 plus benefits
offered. All candidates must apply online at ejobs.umd.edu (search under “faculty” for position number 117685). For
best consideration, apply by October 9.
Home Food Preservation: Cubed Pumpkin
This food preservation class is intended to provide a hands-on learning experience for
both beginners and advanced canners. This course is aimed at introducing the food
science principles of low acid foods to be preserved as well as the knowledge to safely
12:00 p.m.—4:00 p.m.
can to prevent botulism. Advanced canners will be provided with the updated science, Harford Extension Office
resources, and tools that may not have been available when they first started canning.
Forest Hill, MD
The class will begin with a lecture, followed by participants going into the kitchen to can
their own produce they will take home the same day. Instruction will be provided by Dr. Shauna Henley, University of
Maryland Extension’s Family and Consumer Sciences educator for northern Maryland. The registration fee of $35 per
person includes the booklet So Easy to Preserve, lecture/instruction, and all the
equipment and produce to processes your own preserved jar. Register online at
gieipihc.eventbrite.com or contact Shauna at 410-887-8090 or
shenley@umd.edu. This class will be repeated in Harford County and Baltimore
County on additional dates. Contact Shauna for more information.
October 22, 2015
Jeff Myers
Area Extension Director
Harford, Baltimore,
and Carroll Counties
Sara Meagher BhaduriHauck
Faculty Extension Assistant
Agriculture and
Natural Resources
sbh@umd.edu
Extension.umd.edu/Harford-county
facebook.com/HarfordAg
The University of Maryland Extension programs are open to all citizens and will not discriminate against anyone because of race, age, sex, color,
sexual orientation, physical or mental disability, religion, ancestry, national origin, marital status, genetic information, political affiliation, and gender identity or expression. The
information given herein is supplied with the understanding that no discrimination is intended and no endorsement by University of Maryland Extension is implied.